How to see Jupiter tonight

[elleng]

Jupiter is the brightest “star” on July, 2016 evenings. It lights up the sky almost immediately after sunset. Go outside, and look generally westward, the direction of sunset. The brightest starlike object up there will be Jupiter.

Jupiter can be seen from all parts of Earth. From mid-northern latitudes, the king planet shines in the southwest sky at nightfall. From the Southern Hemisphere, look in the north to northwest sky as darkness falls.

As evening falls, Mars and Saturn shine on one side of the sky, while Jupiter appears in the west.

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/how-to-see-jupiter-july-2016-juno

[underpants]

1. Not here. Rain and cloud cover.

Almost every time there is something to see in the sky we get overcast skies.

[elleng]

2. Ditto!

Won't be 'mostly sunny' til Friday!

[Cooley Hurd]

3. I believe I saw it last night.

A pink star, no?

[LongtimeAZDem]

4. It's the brightest starlike object in the sky agfter susnset; if you can get access to a small scope

it's really worth a look. The Galilean moons are easily visible, as well as the cloud bands.

Then, turn the scope to the east, and look at Saturn. Prepare to be changed forever.

[passiveporcupine]

6. I need to get a scope.

That would be very cool. I love looking at the moon through good binoculars too, but now my hands are too shaky for binoculars.

[LongtimeAZDem]

7. You can get a tripod mount for your binoculars; I highly reccomend it

Also, look online for an astronomy club near you; they'll be delighted to help!

"Ask an amateur astronomer about Saturn. He won't just tell you; he'll drag out his telescope and show you. He'll break your arm to show you."

- Larry Niven, World of Ptavvs

[passiveporcupine]

8. I have a tripod for a camera. I don't know if I could adapt it for binoculars,

but my binoculars were stolen when I first moved in here. A kid broke in while I was at work and took about $500 worth of stuff that was right by the front door, and the binoculars were hanging there...a really good, expensive pair. Now if I get anything it will be a scope.

[LongtimeAZDem]

9. You won't be sorry. I've had my main scope for 35 years; it has seen Hally's coming and going,

the Shoemaker-Levy impact, and many other comets, as well as planets, galaxies, clusters, and nebulae.

Again, I strongly suggest you contact local amateurs; they can not only show you cool stuff, but can also help you get the best scope for you, your interests, and your budget.

[elleng]

5. BRIGHT,

not so 'pink.' That may be Mars.

[shireen]

10. did you look east?

The very bright reddish "star" in the east is Mars. It's close to the head of the scorpion, in the constellation of Scorpius.

There is another pinkish star, fainter than Mars but still bright, called Antares, classified as a red supergiant star.

Saturn is not far from Mars and Antares.

There's a nice video showing how Mars and Saturn will move with respect to Scorpius over the next few months.